Page 6 of Heir Of Sun And Moon
The book’s spine cracks lightly as I open it, a familiar scent reaching my nose—one of matured leather and paper. Alexi always complains about how this room smells, as if the scent of old books is somehow offensive to him.
A map that details the main Continent, which three of the five kingdoms dwell on, is drawn on the first page. The Continent runs east to west, with the Mortal Kingdom on the west side, the Fae Kingdom on the east side, and the Mage Kingdom centered in the middle. The Mortal Kingdom is depicted with meadows and fields, as well as a large lake near the capital and a half heavily wooded area near the border. The trees extend into the entirety of the Mage Kingdom before expanding partially into the Fae Kingdom. The rest of the Fae Kingdom is mountainous, their capital located right in the middle of them.
“Here is where we are, Bells,” I say pointing to where Vitour, the Mortal Kingdom’s capital city, is marked on the map. “And down here is the Shifter Kingdom.” I drag my finger to the large island drawn to the south of the Mortal Kingdom.
“The Siren Queendom’s underwater capital is to the south of the Fae Kingdom, though they have small cities built all throughout the ocean that surround the Continent,” I continue, my finger tapping on the open waters where an “X” marks their capital, Lumen. Turning the page again, it goes into detail on the history of The War Of Five Kingdoms.
“The War Of Five Kingdoms of the world Olymazi began after a failed attempt at a marriage alliance between the Siren Queendom and the Mortal Kingdom. Siren Queen Zola Malika suggested a union with her eldest daughter, Amari Malika, and the eldest son of Aron Maxwell, the Mortal King.” I pause and look over to Bella, whose eyes are starting to look a little droopy. Smirking, I continue skimming.
“The alliance would have gifted some of the mortal land of the Continent to the sirens while giving the mortals access to the siren legion at will. The deal became null when Queen Zola initiated an attack on King Aron during their meeting.”
When I check Bella again, she’s fully asleep and faintly snoring. Smiling, I snuggle further into the velvety cushions of the bench and skip ahead in the book to where it talks about the Spell. The tome says that even after weeks of watching the Mortal Kingdom—who had enlisted the help of those from the shifter isle—and the Siren Queendom battle each other, the Mage Kingdom had remained neutral in the fight. However, when the fae rode their dragons down from the mountains, determined to ravage and conquer the distracted realms, they were forced to act. It was at this point that the ruler of the Mage Kingdom cast a spell that separated the beings and sent them all back into their own realms—and kept them there.
In the years after it was cast, there had apparently been a lot of trial and error as the beings tested the Spell to see what exactly had been done and what the limitations of the Spell were. From what I’ve read, whenever someone from the other kingdoms passes over their border and into another, they lose the magical ability specific to them forever. If a mortal does it, they lose their youth immediately. I wonder if the mages felt any semblance of remorse that it was one of their own that separated the world so completely.
The king had told me that it was the mages who had snuck into the castle the night I was born and murdered my parents. He said they were on their way to murder me before he intervened and stopped them. But, it didn’t make sense, even with what little information I had read about the Spell, mages, and their inclination to be more pacifistic. As I grew older, he repeated this story over and over again, saying the tower was the only way I could stay safe until I was old enough for him to protect me in a different way. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that but something internal questioned his words and their truth. Shaking my head, I set the book down and slide off the bench, walking over to my favorite collection of romance novels.
Humming to myself, I search the titles, reminiscing on what each book is about and which ones have the moreprovocativescenes. I have learned quite a lot about sex and romance through reading, not that it matters when I will never leave the tower and experience those things for myself. The bench is warm from the sunlight streaming in through the window when I return to lay down, crossing one leg over the other and resting my chosen novel against the front of my thighs. Bella eventually awakens from her nap, stretching her legs before looking over at me. She eyes the book I’m now reading and lets out what feels like a yip of disagreement.
“Bells, you’re the one who fell asleep at your own book choice. There is no reason I should be doomed to the same fate.” I give her a pointed look, pretending to be stern when her supposed indignation just makes me want to laugh. She hops off the bench, her nails clicking on the wood floor as she leaves. “Wait! Don’t go, Bella! I can read this one out loud to you too.” I frantically turn to a random page and start shouting, “The knight slowly lifted her dress overhead, baring her breasts to the cold air.” I laugh as Bella keeps walking away. When she’s out of sight, I chuckle again, turning to look out at what I can see of the castle outside the window.
Tall turrets dot the exterior every few hundred feet, the tops reaching high into the bright blue sky. The entire exterior, like my tower, is made of the same round gray stone—truly, was no other building material available when they built this estate? Dark green vines, dotted with small pink flowers, grow up the walls—different from the jasmine that travels along my tower. I imagine they are clamoring to get out of the castle’s shadows and into the sunlight. I can relate.
In the distance, to the right of the castle—more directly in line with my point of view—is Vitour. Alexi has described what life is like in the capital, how merchants line the streets selling goods such as clothing, jewelry, small weapons, and delicacies. He’s told me that seamstresses, taverns, blacksmiths, and apothecaries are among some of the more popular shops. I wonder if the air is rich with the scent of spices I’ve only ever read about or what it’s like to have the noises of so many people in one spot play in your ear. I fantasize about how women my age find love in the capital. Was it at those taverns?
Despite the daunting reality of my life in confinement, hope remains within me, a reminder that I have the ability to imagine something better. That I can pretend. And so I do. I pretend that today I walk to those markets. The warmth of the sunshine turns my light-toned skin pink while my hair glistens like gold. I imagine introducing myself to the people of Vitour and partaking in everything the city has to offer.
“The princess grieves no more!”they would exclaim, though I wouldn’t correct them on the lies of that assumption. I’d shake their hands and hug my people because that’s who they are. My father was the king of these lands, my mother his queen. And I would be happy to be with them, to indulge in the day-to-day of being free to do as I please, where I please, and with whomever I please. I would shop at all the merchant stalls, buying new dresses and shoes without a second thought. I would visit a salon and have my hair properly trimmed.
It’s easy to have hope when I pretend. Hope for a love that could heal the way I’ve grown up. Hope for friends that would link arms with me as we shop, smiling and laughing freely. Even hope for a family that could grow beyond just Alexi and Bella. I would simply hope.
Chapter Four: Rhea
Thedaysblurtogetherin a continuous stream of repetition—each day the same as the one before it: wake up with the sun, clean something, practice my exercises at Alexi’s behest, bathe, eat, read. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
I woke up this morning to the drizzling of rain outside, the gray of the skies matching the dreary stones surrounding me. The sun is hidden behind thick dark clouds, and for some inexplicable reason, tightly wound dread builds inside me. Moving around my tower, I run through my daily checklist of duties to keep busy: sweeping floors, dusting shelves, re-organizing my books by color today instead of alphabetically.
It is late in the afternoon when the reason for the heavy foreboding feeling is finally revealed. Sitting on my couch in the near dark—just the light of a few candles burning to combat the gloomy thunderclouds—I try to sew a small rip in one of my dresses. Bella is laying at my feet when suddenly her head shoots up, her ears going erect as she turns to look towards the door. There is only one person she reacts that way for.No. No. No.I fight to keep my breathing steady, laying the dress and sewing needle down on the tea table in front of me.
“Bella, you need to go hide. Now.”
She hesitates, her eyes heavy with apprehension. The hackles on her back rise, and her tail goes straight as she comes to stand in front of me defensively. But the king never comes alone. Bella is a large fox, but she couldn’t take them all on, and I’m not willing to even let her attempt it. If something happens to her, I might as well turn a sword on myself.
“Now, Bella.Please,” I beg. Seconds pass, and I can hear the king’s steps—slow and methodical—nearing. Bella finally concedes and bolts up the staircase to hide under the bed. She barely rounds the corner of the loft when the door opens and King Dolian walks in followed by his five most-trusted guards.
Unlike how Alexi only wears his weapon and cuirass, these guards dress head-to-toe in golden metal, the Mortal Kingdom’s sigil of a roaring lion head engraved on their chests. They stand at attention and block the door like I’d actually try to escape if they didn’t. My gaze clashes with one of the guards—his dark eyes wrinkling around the corners for a moment as he takes me in. He’s new, I realize, someone I’ve never seen with the king before. His shoulder-length wavy black hair starkly stands out against his armor. No emotion betrays his face as he stares at me, leaving me feeling oddly exposed. None of the other guards look at me like he does.
The king steps in front of me, drawing my eyes to his. Locked in place under his harsh gaze, my body can’t move. My breath catches in my throat, and I quickly clasp my hands together behind me to hide their trembling. I refuse to cower before him this time, but there is no denying the icy fear that is coursing through my veins. He is dressed in his usual kingly uniform—a black button-up dress shirt neatly tucked into tan breeches. It’s offset by an embroidered blue and gold vest that fits snugly across his chest. Shiny black riding boots without a single scuff click on the wood floors as he nears me. Outwardly, he looks every bit the regal king he presents himself to be. You would have to dig deeper, beyond the façade, to see the true evil that I know lurks beneath.
My posture is rigid as the king runs his gaze over me from top to bottom, his hazel eyes leering while a malicious smile widens his mouth. I shiver under his attention, making his smile grow even wider—the white of his teeth glowing against the shadows of his face. It is horrifying and everything my nightmares are made of.
Heis everything my nightmares are made of.
“Do you no longer bow before your king, Rhea?” he chides.
The hair on my arms rises at the sound. My body trembles as I lower down into a curtsy, gaze falling to the floor as I will my face to appear calm. He tuts in disapproval, walking around me slowly and appraising my bent form. I cast my eyes further down as my legs shake, my toes trying and failing to grip onto the wood floor for balance.
The king comes to stand before me, hooking a finger under my chin to make me look up. His face transforms with a sneer, and I am immobile, pinned under the venom in his eyes. Releasing me, the king winds his hand back so quickly that I can’t brace myself for what is to come.Crack.My head is thrown to the side with the force of his slap as my knees buckle and I fall to the ground. I hold my breath and pry my watery eyes open, a copper taste filling my mouth.
